Patents by Inventor Michael Völz

Michael Völz has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10151385
    Abstract: A transmission device may be provided for transmitting an angle of activation of a selector lever for a vehicle transmission, where the selector lever can assume a plurality of angles of activation. The transmission device may include a transmission lever, where the transmission lever may be rotatable about a first axis and may be configured to receive the angle of activation of the selector lever. The transmission device may further include a signal lever, where the signal lever may be rotatable about a second axis and may be configured to provide a transducer angle to a transmitter element of a sensor. A drive device may be included. The drive device may couple the transmission lever with the signal lever and may be configured to transmit the angle of activation received by the transmission lever to the transducer angle provided by the signal lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Voelz, Dirk Bormann
  • Publication number: 20170159808
    Abstract: A device for the adjustment of a movement of an operating element for an automatic transmission of a vehicle. The device comprises an engaging contour for defining of at least one shift position of the operating element along a motion path of the operating element and a contact surface. The locking contour is thereby formed at least partially of a hard material with a first elasticity, and the contact surface is formed from a soft material with a second elasticity. The second elasticity of the soft material is hereby greater than the first elasticity of the hard material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Yanik KÜHNE, Michael VOELZ, Sascha ROSENTRETER
  • Publication number: 20160377174
    Abstract: A transmission device may be provided for transmitting an angle of activation of a selector lever for a vehicle transmission, where the selector lever can assume a plurality of angles of activation. The transmission device may include a transmission lever, where the transmission lever may be rotatable about a first axis and may be configured to receive the angle of activation of the selector lever. The transmission device may further include a signal lever, where the signal lever may be rotatable about a second axis and may be configured to provide a transducer angle to a transmitter element of a sensor. A drive device may be included. The drive device may couple the transmission lever with the signal lever and may be configured to transmit the angle of activation received by the transmission lever to the transducer angle provided by the signal lever.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Michael Voelz, Dirk Bormann
  • Patent number: 8459433
    Abstract: A parking lock for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the automatic transmission has an actuator which can disengage a locking element in the automatic transmission, the locking element is held in a locked position by spring force, and a locking assembly (1) is provided which is connected via an actuating element (2) to the locking element and which has a knee lever (3) which can fix the actuating element (2) so as to prevent engagement of the locking element in the automatic transmission. The invention is characterized in that the knee lever (3) fixes the actuating element (2) in an overextended position, wherein a fixed counter support (4) is attached at the overextended side of the knee lever (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignees: ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
    Inventors: Michael Völz, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter, Roland König
  • Publication number: 20110005890
    Abstract: A parking lock for an automatic transmission of a motor vehicle is provided, wherein the automatic transmission has an actuator which can disengage a locking element in the automatic transmission, the locking element is held in a locked position by spring force, and a locking assembly (1) is provided which is connected via an actuating element (2) to the locking element and which has a knee lever (3) which can fix the actuating element (2) so as to prevent engagement of the locking element in the automatic transmission. The invention is characterized in that the knee lever (3) fixes the actuating element (2) in an overextended position, wherein a fixed counter support (4) is attached at the overextended side of the knee lever (3).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Applicants: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG, BAYERISCHE MOTORENWERKE AG
    Inventors: Michael Völz, Ludger Rake, Andreas Giefer, Sascha Rosentreter, Roland König
  • Patent number: 7167085
    Abstract: An optical display device of a selector lever arrangement with a selector lever mounted in the motor vehicle for shifting between different shifting states of a motor vehicle transmission. The selector lever can be pivoted along at least one shift gate from a first selector lever position into at least one second selector lever position, wherein the optical display device has at least two display elements arranged in different display positions for displaying symbols unambiguously associated with the shifting states and a detection device for detecting the current shifting state. The symbol associated with the current shifting state is always displayed by the first display element during the operation of the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: ZF Lemförder Metallwaren AG
    Inventors: Jörg Meyer, Andreas Giefer, Michael Völz